December 4, 2024 • 63 mins
Today I (Patti Hunt) share some big news about Harvest Hosts...the place to go for the unique camping experiences. My guests Dominic Camillaci and Laura Kernodle talk about important changes such as:
*Harvest Hosts now offers extra nights and hookups at select locations
* 30% off all Harvest Hosts products through January 12th with code HOLIDAYHH
*Merger between Harvest Hosts and Escapees RV Club has been successful
Reach out to Harvest Hosts with Questions
Harvest Hosts CEO Joel Holland Podcast Episode July 25, 2024 Episode #92
Articles referred to in the podcast
My RV Essentials
Colorado to NY in a Pop-Up Camper
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Are you ready to break free from the ordinary?
I'm Patti Hunt and you'relistening to the RV Life Podcast
.
Harvest Host is the namesynonymous with unique camping.
Today, I have three guestsactually two guests on, there
(00:22):
was supposed to be three thatwill share their expertise and
experience to not only help youfind unique experiences, they
will talk about the huge changesthat Harvest Hosts just
announced and the biggestdiscount of the year.
The RV Life podcast was createdto entertain, educate and
(00:43):
explore the RV lifestyle, withthe mission to inspire you to
live life to the fullest.
This week, what you Need to Knowis brought to you by Open Road
Resorts, and they have manylocations now in places like
Montana, idaho, nebraska, newMexico, and they have two
(01:03):
locations in Texas.
The newest one, good ShepherdRV Park in Dallas, texas.
They are offering 25% off staysof two nights or more during
the 2025 season.
You need to use RV Life 25,case sensitive, so all capitals
(01:25):
and if you book between now andJanuary 31st 2025, for any of
your stays in 2025.
There are some blackout dates.
You could go check all of thisout by going to
openroadresortscom.
What you need to know there are63 national parks.
(01:47):
The state that has the mostnational parks is California and
the newest national park isRiver Gorge National Park and
Preserve in West Virginia.
The first national park wasYellowstone National Park and it
was established March 1st 1872,by President Ulysses S Grant.
(02:10):
Now I tell my story about havingtraveled full-time for over
three years and when I firststarted out, the idea was we
were going to go see everynational park in the country.
To date, after over three years, to date, the number of
national parks I have visited iszero.
I have never gotten to onenational park while RVing and
(02:37):
the reason is because I alwaysfind these incredibly unique
places.
Find these incredibly uniqueplaces and that's why I've loved
Harvest Hosts, because theyhave so many incredibly unique
places I can stay.
Today's episode is going to bedifferent because I have two
(02:58):
guests on that are in twodifferent places and they're
going to help us with twodifferent places and they're
going to help us withinformation, both the Harvest
Host side as well as theEscapees RV Club side, and most
people, if you did not know,back in June, harvest Hosts
(03:18):
acquired Escapees RV Club.
I did an episode July 25th ofthis year, episode number 92,
where Joel Holland, the CEO,talked about that acquisition
and today my guest is going totell us what has happened since
July.
But let me start first withDominic, who?
(03:41):
He is the member experiencespecialist and as a member
experience specialist at HarvestHosts, he works to ensure an
exceptional experience for boththe members and the host.
His role is multifaceted,involving technical
troubleshooting, complianceoversight and host success
(04:02):
management.
He helps to maintain seamlessplatform functionality for
members and hosts.
He also ensures hosts adhere tocompliance standards and meets
expectations, creating a safeand enjoyable environment.
That's a lot.
Welcome, dominic, to the RVLife Podcast.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Thank you, Patti.
Happy to be here and to explaina little bit about Harvest
Hosts and some of the fun newthings that have been happening
over in our neck of the woods.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Can't wait.
Now your last name.
Please pronounce it for me.
I did not want to butcher it.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
It's okay.
A lot of vowels in that.
It's pronounced Kamalaji.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Okay, cool name, I'll leave it to you.
So what I usually do when Ihave people on the podcast, I
introduce them.
I'd love to hear theirbackstory.
So I'm going to hear yourbackstory and then I will
introduce our next guest.
So tell us a little bit aboutyour RV journey.
How did it start?
When did it start?
(05:01):
Why did it start when?
Speaker 2 (05:02):
did it start?
Why did it start?
So my RV journey began kind ofpost-pandemic 2021, fueled by a
lot of YouTubers, and I guessthat was kind of part of the
inspiration following some ofour favorite YouTubers, to kind
of be inspired to get out more.
At the time, my wife and I wewere both living in Vail,
(05:23):
colorado, and Vail is an amazingplace.
We're both big backcountryenthusiasts, whether that's in
the winter on the slopes or, um,you know, hike in to find
different alpine lakes in thesummertime, and RVing was a way
for us to get out of our littlebubble and experience even more
(05:44):
places.
So, whether that's getting outto Moab for the weekend or to up
to Jackson hole, um, it was agreat way for us to just kind of
expand our scope of where wecan explore.
And then you know it was alsotwofold be living in the
mountain town.
It was very, uh, isolating attimes, so we're able to get out
and see our friends and familyand just have that, have that
(06:06):
access and that community thatwe were kind of lacking where we
, where we were.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Awesome.
Love to hear the stories.
Now Laura is also with us.
It was supposed to be Laura Rob, but prior to getting on, laura
told us she bounced Rob off ofthe podcast.
There was something she saidsomething about headsets, but
I'm not sure about that and thetwo of you came from Escapees RV
(06:33):
Club and you've been to 25Escapees events and then you
started working for Escapees asa volunteer and you did smaller
rallies.
You said 30 rigs, which to mesounds like a lot, and now you
plan and organize and runescapades, which is the biggest
(06:57):
escapees rally of the year withthe 600 to 1000 rigs.
Did I read that?
Speaker 3 (07:04):
right, yep, you absolutely did 1,900 people.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Oh, my goodness, we're going to hear more about
that.
I'm already overwhelmed.
And a quote that you said it'slike throwing a huge RV party
every year Huge, it's more likehumongous.
So welcome Laura, to the RVLife podcast.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Thank you, patty.
Thanks for having me here, rob.
Sorry that he couldn't be herebut, like I said, it just didn't
work out with our logistics andeverything.
But still a huge fan of Harvest, oats and RV Life and so glad
to be here.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Thank you, and so tell me how to pronounce your
last name.
I'm just going to give upCurnod here, thank you, thank
you, and so tell me how topronounce your last name.
I'm just going to get a nodal.
Okay.
Okay, we, I got to get someSmith's on here, or something
nice and easy.
So tell my listeners how yourRV life journey started.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Well, we had been a weekend warrior, you know, grew
up camping me more than Rob butthen when we had kids, decided
camping was a great familypastime, started camping on
weekends and during the summerswith lots of friends and
actually I was coordinating, youknow, a once one week a summer
(08:21):
vacation for about 60 peopleback then.
So kind of started my planningfun things to do while RVing.
Then we decided we had twins.
They left the house at the sametime.
We looked at each other andsaid you know what?
Life's too short, too manypeople die waiting to retire.
We're just going to go aheadand do it now and then figure
(08:41):
out from there.
So 2018, we retired early, hitthe road.
Prior to that we had joinedEscapees and then joined Harvest
Host because I saw a picture ofa fifth wheel sitting on a
coast somewhere up in Maine at awinery and I'm like I want to
go there.
And so we joined Harvest Host.
Still haven't found that winery, but found a lot of other great
(09:03):
locations since then.
So it's just been a great ride.
We're going on eight years nextyear doing this fun journey.
We've been with Escapees fromthe beginning and been employees
the last three years, basically, but now Harvest Hosts
employees since July.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
So you did move over and you are now an employee at
Harvest Host.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Yes, our whole events team, our whole escapees events
team, which is really what welike to think is the kind of the
heart of what makes escapees RVclub different is the events
and the community spirit that weprovide.
Our whole team went underHarvest Host, so that is all
still there.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Let's talk a little bit about that.
As I said, and I'll take anycomments from both of you.
I'll start with you, Laura, butas I said back in June, it was
that Harvest Host acquiredEscapees RV Club and let's be
really clear and talk to see ifthere's anything that we could
add.
In the episode that I did withJoe Holland, he did a great job
(10:08):
explaining but as things havemoved forward, so Harvest Hosts
acquired Escapees RV Club andthey have the event side of it.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
They have the membership and the event.
They have everything but parkand the mail service.
So all of that has stayed withthe organization in Livingston
care of membership on theregistration side and new member
sign up and everything.
The RV show team that goes outand talks to folks at great RV
shows around the country All ofthat is now part of Escape Bees
(10:42):
RV Club and that's what wealways say come over like we
(11:28):
were next door or something youknow but has come under that
umbrella now it definitely wasand wanting to keep that very
much intact and just grow it andmake it better.
You know how can we get morepeople excited about meeting up
with people you know down theroad and also in unique
locations?
Speaker 1 (11:43):
And it's good to hear that after, because that was a
concern of people.
And the reason that I wanted toget Joel on was whenever
something happens, wheneverthere's a change, you go to
social media and there's allkinds of information we'll say
it a nice way and there's peoplemaking stuff up and there's
(12:06):
people that are happy andthere's people panic, and
there's people happy or panickedabout information they're not
even clear on.
So it was very important that Ihad Joel on to get that
information.
And these were two solidcompanies with family-like
environments.
And here you are merging andit's great to see some five
(12:32):
months later things really havegone well and things are smooth,
Okay.
So, Dominic, do you haveanything to add on that?
Let's get you back in.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
I think it's been great to have the infusion of
the Escapies team joining upwith us.
You know, as we're kind ofharvesters, we're kind of the
young arviers Like, we're fairlynew to the game but you know,
just having the knowledge andthe experience that Laura and
the rest of her team has broughtover, and it's truly been great
(13:04):
to have them come over andshare all the knowledge with us.
I know I'll probably be askingRob how to fix a few different
things in my RV pretty soon,But-.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Oh, and there's that, okay, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
So it's been great to have them over here and we're
happy to see where thepartnership continues.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Okay, so let's talk a little bit.
I am going to go back and mylisteners consists of
full-timers, part-timers, sometimers, whatever they want to be
called and there's a lot of newpeople that are thinking about
the RV lifestyle.
So, wherever people are, let'stalk a little bit.
Let's start with you, dominic,and talk about Harvest Hosts,
(13:47):
for somebody who's never heardof it doesn't know what it is.
I started by talking aboutunique camping experiences, so
let's talk about that.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Yeah, I guess I'll just jump into my first
experience with Harvest Hosts,and that really happened before,
once we first purchased ourcamper camper.
We, I have a, I have a pop uptruck camper, so it's a hallmark
truck camper.
Sits in the back of the truck,low profile, um, but you know it
can take care of all of our,our needs that we have just for
for my wife and I so, and we'renot full-timers either, so we're
(14:20):
, we're weekend warriors.
We'll usually take I mean, weboth work remote so we'll'll
usually take extended trip ortrips in the summertime.
So we're I guess we're kind ofin that hybrid role.
So with our RV, like there's aproblem, right.
It's like where do you findcampsites, especially if you're
(14:41):
not booking them six months inadvance or you're not on all the
state websites once thecampsites open?
How do you find campsites,especially if you're not booking
them six, six months in advanceor you're not on all the state
websites once the campsites open?
How do you find campsites?
Cause our RV it wasn't, it'snot stealth, like we can't just
pull in and camp someplace andyou know my wife definitely
wouldn't, that wouldn't fly withher either especially with our
style RV.
It's like once it's popped up inthe bed of the truck, you know
(15:02):
someone's camping in there.
So making sure there's a safeplace was really the driving
force for us to be Harvest Hostmembers.
And then from there, that'swhen you just kind of where all
the magic happens.
You think you're just going toan overnight stay at a winery
and next thing you know you'retalking to the owner.
(15:23):
He's asking you what you'rehaving for dinner and trying to
find the perfect wine to pairwith your meal.
So it's really the experiencesthere.
They're all amazing.
But dissolve your expectationbecause you never know what
you're going to get into.
And but, but every time I it'salways 10 out of 10.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
I have to agree.
I have to just share that.
We became Harvest Host members,my husband and I, when we
started out.
We became Harvest Host membersand we have had some of the most
incredible experiences.
Really.
We have had some of the mostincredible experiences really.
We pulled in, we were inTennessee and we were going to
stay.
(16:02):
Actually, we were going toNashville to do the whole
Nashville thing.
We ended up going to a harvesthost in this little town in
Tennessee and it was a longhorncattle farm and so cool, great,
let me look at that from adistance.
No, this young couple, amazingcouple.
(16:23):
They said come on, let's gomeet the cattle long horn cattle
, we're talking like eight feetwide, long, pointy horns.
So we go walk out into thefield.
And he said, okay, so whenyou're going to pet them, you
grab the horn so they don't like, when they're happy, they kind
of swing their head and youdon't want to get hit by the
(16:46):
horn.
Well, I was standing behind himfor shelter because I was a
little nervous, but these cattlewere like puppies.
And then the morning we'reready to leave he comes banging
on the door early in the morning.
He said let's go, let's go.
I thought there was a fire orsomething.
And we go out into the fieldand we sat there for two hours
(17:07):
while one of the cows was havingits calf, so we witnessed, yeah
.
So that's not necessarilyexperience everybody's going to
get to have, nor an experienceeverybody wants to have, but
when Harvest Hosts says unique,incredible, unique experiences.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Exactly Like you can't pay for these experiences.
They're just, they just kind ofhappen.
It's like the magic of HarvestHosts.
It really is like the magic ofHarvest Hosts.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Yes, yes, laura, you have a story to add.
It looks like.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Yeah, the magic of our post.
Yes, yes, laura, you have astory to add?
It looks like, yeah, and one ofour first days.
I'm really I don't want to sayfamous, but my friends know this
about me that I will give Rob acarrot when we're driving.
We're some of those crazypeople that put in 500 plus days
, don't recommend it and only doit on necessary times.
But we were doing one trip upthrough Indiana, illinois, and
(18:01):
it was like, okay, we are goingto stay here.
And I said, but if we go like alittle bit farther another hour
and a half, we can stay at thisharvest hose that has an onsite
bistro and winery.
It's a goat farm, you know.
So who doesn't love cute littlegoats?
(18:22):
But it's like the fact thatthey were going to have food
right there and we didn't haveto go anywhere, so we thought
that was great, right, you knowyou told them.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
You told them drive an extra hour and a half for
your cooking dinner tonight.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Yeah, basically Basically same thing, you know,
we don't have to unhook thetrack and go anywhere.
So we get there and a cutelittle place, beautiful flowers,
because it's like July orAugust, I can't remember, it was
summertime Sitting there, we'rehaving our dinner, and I look
down and there's a little cardon the table that says the next
morning there was going to begoat yoga.
(18:52):
And I'm like I do yoga, I'venever done goat yoga.
When am I going to get thechance, maybe, to do this?
So it's like we have to stay alittle bit later.
Normally we're out pretty early,you know, at a stop like that.
So I'm like, okay, so we stayand I'm doing goat yoga.
And they say, okay, we're goingto do the yoga for about 20
(19:13):
minutes, and then we bring thebaby goats out because we know
that's why you all came as thebaby goat, you know, and so he's
got a great picture of me doingwarrior two and the goats are
coming up through my legs and,you know, climbing on other
people's backs and everything itwas.
It was just such a beautifulexperience and a great time and
had we, you know, we would havenever gotten that experience
(19:35):
without Harvest Oats.
You know they didn't advertisethat there would be goat yoga,
but it was a big bonus when wegot there, that's incredible,
and this is what I love aboutHarvest Oats.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
And again for my listeners, there is wineries,
there's farms.
You could say at a church Iknow there were some churches,
there was a drive-in movietheater.
Let's talk about alpacas.
We all missed all three of usmissed an alpaca farm.
So we're having thisconversation before the podcast
(20:06):
started and what does my editor,who's not an RVer, say?
But he has visited an alpacafarm, so it is something on all
three of our bucket list.
My editor, jacob, has alreadychecked that off.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
But alpacas, there's something about that and there
are a number of alpaca farmsacross the country and, for
those of you who don't know, ourmascot at Harvest Host is an
alpaca.
His name is Harvey H-A-R-V-E-Y,so that's why it's such a
popular topic here at HarvestHost.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
I actually forgot about that.
I was interviewed.
They started doing interviewswith people, with Harvey or
something.
I don't remember.
I forgot about that.
Yes, so got to get to thealpaca farm and then buy the.
They have sweaters and andgloves and socks.
Alpaca fur is very warm, sothat'll be on.
That's on my bucket list.
(21:05):
I know that it's to get to analpaca farm.
Well, that's great.
So there are so many different,unique camping experiences
across the country.
You sign up.
Let's talk about who wants totalk about Dominic.
Why don't you talk about howthe program actually works for
people?
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Yeah.
So us at Harvest Host, wepartner with small businesses
across North America, so Canadaand the United States.
And how it works is yourmembership has access to all
these locations and reallyyou're looking at the map,
you're figuring out which onesfit your rig, which ones
(21:46):
interest you, which ones youwant to patronize.
That is a part of the programis to make sure you're
supporting the business thatyou're staying at.
So if you're allergic to dairy,don't go to a dairy farm.
But other than that, you knowall the locations pretty much
have something for everyonefamilies, you know, couples,
people that like adventurethere's, there's really a host
(22:07):
for you out there.
And once you find one that youlike, that kind of starts the
dialogue with with a host.
So you'll put in your your stayrequest with the host.
Once the host sees that itreviews your profile, make sure
your rig will fit and make surethey're available for that date,
they'll send you a message backsaying welcome to come here for
(22:29):
this night.
Your stay request is approvedand then all you have to do is
show up and start having a goodtime.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Right, and it's like you said there's something for
everyone.
I stayed at a winery.
I don't really drink wine but,like you said, I wanted to make
sure I'm supporting and buyingsomething.
They had food there.
I ended up buying a bottle ofwine for my mother, so it's a
great exchange and the pricethat you would pay staying at
(22:59):
one of these places.
It's still less expensive thanstaying in a campground
somewhere.
You know people could stay inCracker Barrel, but just not
quite as fun.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
No waking up in between the rows of a vineyard
or having the whole drive andmovie theater to yourself when
you wake up, it's, it's a prettyunique experience.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
It's amazing Go ahead , laura.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
Yeah, I was going to say too, you know, the first
probably six to eight months onthe road we did a lot of Walmart
stays and then, once we starteddoing some more harvest hoses,
like no, we're not ever goingback to that, because you have
semis running constantly and,like you said, or you can wake
up in a beautiful location, orwe stayed at one uh farm up in
(23:45):
maine and they had a full.
You could get meat, egg, dairy,you know all kinds of stuff.
I mean, you know, I did myweekly grocery shopping while we
were there so it was great.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Harvest hose is really adaptable for all
different types of travelers.
So say you're someone thatlikes to book things last minute
, there's going to be hosts thatcan accommodate you on that
level.
Or if you're someone like me orreally my wife who likes to
plan things out, there's goingto be hosts that like to have
people booked for their sites.
So both really have a lot ofaccommodations and flexibility
(24:22):
both ways.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Right, and for people listening to the podcast, the
video isn't being shown.
The three of us are on cameraand it's funny.
We're so excited.
You know, we're just kind ofwe've raised our hands so that
we're not talking over eachother and you know we couldn't
possibly mention all thedifferent types of locations.
I stayed at a loofah andlavender farm, learned more
(24:45):
about loofah and lavender than Iever could have imagined.
That was an incredibleexperience.
But let's talk.
Harvest Host has a hugeannouncement as far as some new
things they are adding To me.
It is life-changing, dominic,I'll let you take that one.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Yes.
So we've been listening to ourhosts and our members and we're
really excited to have rolledout extra nights and hookups.
So these are two highlyrequested features that are now
live in our platform.
You'll be able to filter tofind hosts that can provide
extra nights.
Historically, harvest Host hasalways been a one night
(25:27):
overnight stay.
Now about 60% of our hostsallow for extra nights, so
that's a huge, huge amount.
The extra nights they operateslightly different than the kind
of the one night stay.
Those will be up to each hostto set their you know small
(25:51):
amount of what they, what theycharge for those additional
nights.
Still it's usually between like20 and $40 for for those extra
nights.
Still it's usually between like$20 and $40 for those extra
nights.
But all the money goes directlyto the host.
Us at Harvest House we don'ttake any of that.
It goes strictly to supportingthe small business.
So you can rest easy knowingthat your contribution is going
(26:11):
to a great cause.
And then the hookups feature.
So if you're not a boondocker,if that's not really your thing,
you need the 50 amp, you needthe 30 amp.
Now our platform canaccommodate you.
Before it was kind of hidden.
If the host has it or if theydon't, you kind of have to
(26:32):
message them and do a little bitmore research and digging to
figure out if that is going tobe offered at that host location
.
Now it's right in the filters30 amp, 50 amp, whatever you
need for your rig, you can finda host that provides that.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
That is amazing, amazing changes.
Laura, I'm going to get to you,but I do need to get my sponsor
in here.
We've been talking for a while,so much excitement.
I want to talk about Clear 2.0because those people, it's sad
to say, I'm sorry to say, thereare people that are storing
(27:08):
their RVs for the season, andbefore you store your RV, there
are critical steps you don'twant to miss.
Sanitizing your freshwater tankis one of those critical steps.
So, whether you've beenfull-time or you're part-time,
you're a weekender campgroundsreally.
The water there can reallyaffect your freshwater and we
(27:32):
want to make sure they are cleanbecause the water system can
accumulate bacteria, sedimentand other contaminants over time
.
So before you take that RV andput it in storage, you want to
use Clear 2 O's Tank Fresh watertank and filter flush.
It is easy to use.
(27:52):
I did it with my RV.
It's a gallon bottle, dependingon your tank size.
You pour it right in, you waitan hour.
I think it is.
There's no smell.
It's just so easy to use and itcleans and sanitizes your RV's
freshwater system, ensuring thatthe next time you pick up your
(28:14):
RV you will have a clean tank,fresh Tank Tank Fresh is one of
the many products Clear 2.0offers, and they are offering
15% off when you use coupon codeRVLIFEPODCAST.
Check out Clear 2.0, clear2ocom.
So, laura, I'll go to you.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
I just wanted to add that we're booked a Harvest Host
in December that we're going tofor three nights.
We're in between campgroundsdays and needed a few nights,
and the extra night feature wasawesome.
I did my booking and then whenI chose, I accidentally chose a
(28:57):
total of four nights.
So once they approved me, Ijust was able to turn around and
message the host and said, hey,you know, we really only wanted
to stay three nights and he'slike, no problem, we're, you
know, pretty lax about it, butit's great when the hosts are so
responsive, you know, to yourneeds and everything but the
extra nights we're actuallystaying at it's a brewery, a
(29:17):
restaurant, they have aputt-putt, they have a petting
zoo I forget what else, butwe're taking our three-year-old
grandson, so I'm pretty surewe're going to spend the $30 a
night while we're there.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
Absolutely.
And what's nice, too, is thefact that all the money goes to
the host.
So farms, wineries, all ofthese places.
We're talking about that extraincome that they get for the
year by having the RVers come in.
It's really helpful.
It's just a great big, it's ahelp.
(29:48):
It's really very helpful.
Go ahead, dominic.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
And I just wanted to include that.
These extra features they'reincluded in our base level
membership.
So if you're just thinkingabout getting your toes wet in
Harvest Host, all these newfeatures they're going to be in
the base level membership, theHarvest Host Classic.
So really great way to you knowkind of adapt different types
of RVers and different types ofcampers into the Harvest Host
(30:13):
ecosystem here.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
Right, and it is one price, like you said, covers
everything.
When you go to a location, youwant to support them in some way
.
I know when I've gone to acertain location, the host
delivery they say pay me thismuch or they don't ask for
anything at all.
(30:36):
Sometimes you go in and youjust go by.
I stayed on an orchard andbought apples or whatever.
I made purchase.
Now I got to say I went totheir little store and I bought
apples, I bought homemade sugarcookies, I bought milk, I bought
fruit, I bought a whole bunchof stuff Because, again, it's
(30:58):
like you said, laura, I neededto shop anyway.
It's nice to support thecommunity and the hosts are
always so welcoming.
But you mentioned membership,so let's talk about the best
sale discount of the year.
Dominic, you want to take that?
Speaker 2 (31:17):
Yeah, I'll take it.
So right now, from now throughJanuary 12th, we're running our
best sale of the year.
It's 30% off all of ourproducts.
So whatever you're interestedin, you'll be able to use that
30% off all of our HarvestedProducts.
That code is HOLIDAYHH and I'msure you'll link it in the
(31:41):
episode description HOLIDAYHHnow through January 12th.
Oh, this is good for newmembers and returning members.
So if you're a returning member, purchase a gift card and apply
that to your account.
That's a way for you to takeadvantage of this great offer.
And if you're a new member,purchase a gift card and apply
that to your account.
That's a way for you to takeadvantage of this great offer.
(32:01):
And if you're a new member,just like I said, type that code
into your signup and receivethat discount.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
And anybody that has any issue with that.
I know they could call HarvestHost.
They could send a message andthey will get help with that.
For people who are previousmembers and they want to get
that discount, that's amazing30% off, well worth it.
I've had a Harvest Hostmembership every year since I've
(32:30):
started RVing and it hasabsolutely been worth it.
And, laura, you said it's likethat holdover sometime in
between your camping.
But I've also specificallywanted to go and I'm trying to
think of all the places I hadgone to.
So you know it's both of thosethings where you plan on going
(32:52):
Because, well, like the alpacafarm, really, we've got to get
to the alpaca farm, so that'llbe a goal to get to the alpaca
farm.
Really, we've got to get to thealpaca farm, so that'll be a
goal to get to the alpaca farm.
But it is a great opportunity,great option as people travel.
I just want to bring in OpenRoad Fuel Card.
Open Road Fuel Card.
I've got to talk about them aswe're talking about traveling
(33:15):
across the country.
Laura, you've got your thumb up.
I'm assuming you have it.
This is the diesel fuel cardthat saves money every time you
get diesel fuel.
They say you could save anaverage of between 40 and 60
cents a gallon.
I have saved more than that attimes.
The card is absolutely free tosign up for.
You go to myopenroadscom.
(33:37):
The link is in the show notes.
You have your card, you'retraveling, you have your app and
you decide which gas stationthat you want to go to.
They are truck stops.
What's been your experiencewith it, laura?
Speaker 3 (33:51):
Oh, it's been great.
I mean we've had it pretty muchfrom the beginning when we
learned about it probably notright in 18, but I know we had
it in 2019, right at thebeginning of pandemic and in
Arizona we got over a dollar offa gallon on diesel fuel.
It was like $1.99 back then.
It was crazy.
But we have a hundred gallondiesel motor home so we're
(34:15):
always looking for where can weget the best rate.
So we usually save between $30to $60 on a fill, depending on
how much we're putting in at thetime.
So, yeah, it's been a greatexperience.
We had a couple hiccups.
A few times called theircustomer support and they've
been awesome to deal with anyproblems that we've had.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
And they're, yes, amazing.
I know the people who run thecompany and the customer support
people.
I know her directly Amazingcustomer support and that's what
I look for.
That's why I love Harvest Hostand that's why I'd love to
escape these RV club.
Okay, let's continue.
Let's talk a little bit aboutEscapades.
So for people who don't know Idon't think we did you know
(34:59):
Escapees RV Club.
Who is it for?
You know what's the benefit ofit.
Let's just talk for people whoaren't familiar.
So.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
Escapees is basically for any style of RV or whether
you're full-time, part-time,sometime, big rig, little rig,
no rig, tent campers, it doesn'treally matter.
And any type of person we don'thave, you know, we aren't one
person denomination of any kind,I don't know how exactly to say
(35:29):
that.
No matter what you believe in,who you love and all of that
good stuff, basically it's yourcommunity on the road.
You know a lot of times peoplewhen they go RVing whether it be
for full-time, especially forfull-time, but even for
part-time you pull in somewhereand you're like I don't know
anybody, I don't have anyfriends, I lost all those people
I used to go out to dinner withanybody.
(35:50):
I don't have any friends, Ilost all those people I used to
go out to dinner with.
But once you get involved withescapees, a lot of people start
first on the Facebook groups toget to know people there, but
then, once you come to an eventlike Escapade or any of the many
smaller events that we have andstart to meet people, then you
just find that community on theroad and we've made some great
lifelong friends.
(36:11):
We've also made some friendsthat we haven't seen in a couple
of years, but we'll be in anevent together and we'll cross
paths and be like, oh my gosh,you know where have you been and
what have you done, and so theyget to talk about all the fun
things that you've done in thelast few years.
Escapade, specifically, is whatwe like to call our big family
reunion, but it doesn't meanthat it's just existing members.
(36:36):
New members, people that arebrand new to RVing, come to
Escapade for the education thatwe provide.
We put on over 60 seminarsduring the five days.
We have an RVers boot camp thatgoes on prior to Escapade.
We've added a new RVers bootcamp post-Escapade this year.
We've also added new this year.
Since we do so many seminars.
(36:57):
We're going to have a seminarvideo recording for the popular,
most useful seminars so thatyou can go back and watch them
later if you couldn't get tothem live or if you just want to
go back and re-watch some ofthe great seminars that we put
on.
So, like I said, escapade is afamily reunion, work conference,
giant festival.
(37:18):
There's live entertainmentevery night, there's happy hours
every afternoon, lots of otherevents Yoga in the morning, line
dancing in the afternoon.
I could go on and on about that, but we really think that
escapees is what puts the heartinto the RVing lifestyle.
It's kind of the heart and soul, and now our partnership with
(37:42):
Harvest Host has just helped usto extend that, one of the
things that we're looking to do,because we're going to escapade
in Freiburg, maine, in 2026,which is way up in the northeast
.
I'm pointing, like everybodycan see this Way up in the north
Way up.
Northeast of the country where alot of people don't go RVing
(38:04):
but there's so many greatlocations there.
One of the things that we'regoing to try to do with our
partnership with Harvest Host isfind hosts along the route
through, like Pennsylvania,vermont, new Hampshire, maine
and publicize those and saythese would be some great
locations on your travels toEscapade to stop and visit this
(38:25):
and many others along the way.
So that's one of the uniquethings that we're looking to get
out of this whole relationshipwith Harvest Host.
Speaker 1 (38:33):
That sounds great.
Now talk about membership andhow that works.
It used to be.
I had my Harvest Hostmembership.
I had my Escapees RV Clubmembership.
Right now I have my HarvestHost membership and I have my
escapees mail membership for mymail service.
So how does it work with theevents?
Speaker 3 (38:56):
So currently they're all still separate memberships.
You can go to any of the otherevents.
Some events are escapee membersonly so you can join.
It's $49.95 for a membership toescapees.
During Escapade we run aspecial for $39.95, $10 off.
If you go to RV shows a lot oftimes they run specials $10 off
(39:20):
for $39.95.
But Escapade specifically isopen to anyone to come as an
attendee.
So that's a great time to comefind out what escapees is all
about.
We also do day passes.
If you're in the Tucson area inMarch, if you're already a
snowbird or down there, you cancome for the day we do a free
(39:41):
day on Wednesday of the week,which is March 19th, I think is
the day we're 16th through the21st.
So I think 19th is theWednesday but free day during
that week that you can come inand check it out.
At this point right now they'reall separate memberships.
And then your mail service is.
It's always been kind ofseparate.
(40:02):
You have to pay for your mailservice and you still have to be
an escapees member to utilizethat mail service.
But you have your Harvest Hostmembership, your escape utilize
that mail service, but you haveyour Harvest Host membership,
your Escapees membership andthen you can add on mail service
at this time.
Speaker 1 (40:18):
Okay, and so for anybody who's listening you know
people listen to the podcastwhile they're doing other things
.
They could call Escapees, theycould call Harvest Host, and
your customer service will helppeople to navigate what might be
the best program for eachperson.
I was at the AlbuquerqueBalloon Fiesta and part of the
Escapers event.
(40:38):
I actually did an interviewwith the people there.
We did a live podcast interview.
What a fun bunch of people.
What an incredible event.
I'm thinking that fun bunch ofpeople, what an incredible event
.
I'm thinking that, um, so foralbuquerque balloon fiesta, if
somebody wanted to be part of it, you put that out there.
(40:59):
What?
In january I think somebodysaid it it was sold out in such
a record time, like 45 minutesor something crazy.
Speaker 3 (41:06):
So, and one thing about escapees that we do have
so many different types of eventgroups.
So escapers is kind of ourworking age RVers, so they gear
things to be happening in theevening and not during the
workday.
Of course, at Albuquerque allthe excitement happens in the
morning when the balloons areflying, or in the evening when
they do the glow.
(41:27):
But escapees actually has threedifferent groups that go to
Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.
You can go with the Escapers,you can go with one of our Birds
of Feathers, the Boomers, whichI think is transitioning to
just be called Balloon RVers orsomething along that line.
Or you can do what we call aHop.
A head out program is kind ofthe white glove experience.
(41:51):
You'll have tatered meals,you'll have a tent gathering
space to get tickets to theevent, to Balloon Fiesta.
So a lot of different ways togo and, yes, most of those the
hop is on sale currently.
Everything else goes on sale, Ibelieve, in January, february
timeframe for that when Fiestahas their opening.
Speaker 1 (42:13):
I just want people to know because I know it sold out
rather quickly.
That was an amazing experience.
Speaker 3 (42:20):
It is a very.
I've done it with all three ofthe different groups and hosted
the hop as well there and justlove going to Albuquerque.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
Now for my listeners who want to RV in the cold.
I'm sure there are hosts thatthey want to be in the cold
weather.
It's not necessarily my thing,but I'm sure there are hosts
that Dominic.
So for those who are cold, Iwant to talk about how they
could stay warm, but I'm surethere are hosts now up in the
northern part of the country aswe record this, it's the end of
(42:52):
november um, that are availablefor people that like the cold
weather.
Speaker 2 (42:57):
Right, I'm putting you on the spot oh yeah, no,
this a lot of our hosts.
They appreciate their ummembers staying at all times of
the year.
Um, I know my family is fromupstate New York and you know
we've stayed for Christmas thepast two years and have traveled
back, you know, in January.
(43:18):
So there's, there's definitelyhosts that are, you know, there
to welcome you and and treat youwith the same level of
hospitality or even better,because you're the only one
they've seen in a couple ofweeks.
So, so, yeah, they're definitelyout there, and sometimes you're
even getting an elevated levelof experience just because, like
I said, they're excited to seeyou.
Speaker 1 (43:39):
Right, it's a private experience.
Again, I'm not necessarily acold weather fan, although here
I am in Pennsylvania, where I'llstay.
For people who are looking forplaces, it is up to the
individual host.
So if there's a place they wantto stay for Christmas in New
York, in upstate New York, theycould just go on and look for
(44:01):
those hosts that are welcoming.
Some hosts just don't have theability.
If it snows it gets muddy.
So there's different situations.
My friends at Airskirts, theseare inflatable RV skirting.
So people who are going to RVin the cold, this is a great way
to keep warm, keep your pipesfrom freezing, and it is
(44:24):
actually inflatable skirtingthat goes all around the RV.
What I love about these becauseus RVers, whether with their
full-time or part-time, space isat a premium, so to be able to
inflate these with a pump thatcomes with the set and then
deflate them.
So these deflate and they gointo a nice storage bag to be
(44:46):
easily stored they're nice andcompact Air skirts is a great
way to go, and they're offering$200 off with code RVPOD,
r-v-p-o-d, and that'sairskirtscom, so I'm happy to be
able to share that with people.
Dominic, you sound like youlike to go in the cold weather
(45:07):
sometimes.
Speaker 2 (45:08):
It's definitely a little bit sportier in the cold
weather, and you know you needto make sure you're checking
those weather forecasts a littlemore diligently.
But yeah, the cold doesn't scareme.
Like I said, we use our RV toget to different backcountry
locations and even somedifferent ski resorts in the
winter, so being able to bravethe cold is kind of part of our
(45:33):
experience.
And actually there's one greathost up in Jackson Hole.
It's called Jackson HoleStillworks.
They're open year round.
Their rig size is a little bitsmaller, so I don't know if you
could be able to get in therewith your class A but-.
Speaker 3 (45:50):
We don't do that.
Speaker 2 (45:54):
I know you guys are in the South, you're right,
you're right, but, um, yeah,jackson hole still works.
It's, it's an amazing, amazingspot like, right, kind of kitty
quarters of town.
That's kind of.
The other fun thing withharvest house is you can
actually find locations that areclose to town.
So being able to, uh, you know,just hop on your bike if you
travel with a bike or some typeof scooter or something, and
being able to have that quickaccess is something that you
(46:16):
don't always get from an RV parkor traditional campground.
So, yeah, jackson Hole stillworks.
It was a great time.
The owner, they took us in theback, they showed us how the
spirits were made and then, youknow, just at at night, we were
in town, jackson hole, and we'veran into all of them and they,
(46:40):
just they.
It was like it was like runningto your friends or family that
you haven't seen in a long time.
After we spent a few nightswith them.
So it was cool to just havethat connection come full circle
and they, uh, they took us tothe next, to the next to, to, uh
, where there was some musicplaying, and we had a great time
with them and that's the nicething about the well, the rv
community really truly is acommunity like I have never
(47:02):
experienced people who have notexperienced it.
Speaker 1 (47:06):
It's like trying to explain what chocolate tastes
like to somebody who's nevertasted it.
You can't know what it's likeuntil you experience it.
So community aspect is huge andI know for escapees and for
Harvest Hosts that is such a bigpart of it because it's not
like you just pull in and youknow.
(47:28):
There have been times I'vepulled into a host location.
It's later at night, we areexhausted, we, you know, pull
the RV and we fall asleep andthe next day maybe just say
hello to the host.
But for the most part there isa connection, there's.
You feel like you're beingwelcomed by family and I find
that in so many of the locationsthat I've been to, Community is
(47:53):
just what it's all about.
I'll let you guys add your twocents into that?
Speaker 3 (47:59):
Oh no, absolutely.
I mean, and that's one thingthat, like I mentioned, with
escapees and then seeing it inthe Harvest Host and within the
Harvest Host employees, it'sreally like a family and it's
interesting.
We stated at a host last weekand they were like, oh, there's
like real people that work atHarvest Host.
And I'm like, yeah, there'sreal people and they're you know
(48:22):
, they're awesome, they're doinga lot of work behind the scenes
and make it be fun.
Dominic and I are on acommittee, fun committee
together.
Speaker 1 (48:34):
So you know, we make it and have a lot of fun as well
, and you could hear that andfeel that and see that, and I
think that's how you know yousee it when you pull into a
location.
We still have some more thingsto cover.
I'm going to put both of you onthe spot in just a minute.
Both of you on the spot in justa minute.
(48:56):
But before I do, you know, rvis an incredible experience.
There are times where we haveissues with the RV and while we
don't like to talk about thosethings, especially on the
podcast, sometimes it'snecessary.
I talked to somebody recentlywho had a tire blowout in a
motorhome.
Thankfully it went well, nobodygot hurt.
But we know that tire blowoutscan be catastrophic.
(49:20):
I have learned from NationalIndoor RV Centers about a
product called RetroBand andthis is to prevent tire blowouts
and this is to prevent tireblowout.
So when you have, if you shouldhave a blowout in your tire,
there is a donut-like ring thatgoes around the inner part of
(49:41):
the tire.
You have to watch a video on itto really understand.
But if the tire goes flat, thisretro brand product will
inflate and I don't know that itactually inflates, but it'll
make it so that you can stilldrive your RV and stop it safely
(50:02):
.
It has literally saved lives.
So I wanted to talk about thatAgain.
Don't like to talk about theharsher side of things, but this
is important and I want my RVlisteners to know.
Retroban is incredible.
You can look it up by going tonirvccom to find out about that
(50:24):
product.
Okay, so tell me for both ofyou, where can people reach out
so we know that they could go toharvesthostcom to find out all
about the Harvest Host products?
They could still go toescapeesrvclubcom correct, it's
escapeescom, just escapeescom,okay.
Speaker 2 (50:45):
Then, on the Harvest Host side of things, there's a
few different ways to reach us,and this is for anything from if
you're having trouble, if youhave a, if you have a suggestion
for a host, or if you just wantto figure out how to optimize
your harvest host membership.
There's a.
There's a outside of justfinding great locations.
There's a lot of other deals,discounts and, um, kind of the
(51:05):
hidden things that that theydon't advertise, that you do
have access to as a harvestvestHost member.
So if you have any questions,you can reach us via email, team
at harvesthostcom or on all theapps.
On our app and on our website.
There's a green bubble in thebottom right-hand corner.
You could chat with one of myteammates If you click that
(51:28):
bubble in the bottom right-handcorner and you know we're all
great and can pretty much answerall your questions, and then
you can also give us a call aswell.
Speaker 1 (51:39):
Okay and I've had to call both of these companies
very receptive, very helpful,real people, so I really
appreciate that.
Now you shared some articlesuggestions that you talked
about Dominic, can you share alittle bit about that?
Speaker 2 (51:55):
Yes, so with the excuse, we've always had a
publication at Harvest Hostcalled RV Life, and now with the
acquisition, now we're kind ofinfusing a lot of our talent and
articles into the escapeesmagazine.
So if you're an escapees memberI'm sure you get that at.
(52:16):
You get that, um, I mean what?
Speaker 3 (52:18):
four times a year, I think six times a year six times
a year I'm a new escapeesmember, so I just got my first
one a few a month ago.
Speaker 2 (52:28):
Um, but yes, you'll find our articles over there and
, um, you know, also keep keep alookout for our blogs.
Like, we're also always postingdifferent things, especially
seasonal.
Like, if you're into a nicefall foliage tour, we we have.
We have a blog for that,highlighting some, some great
host locations.
So we're always churning outsome new content for you and
trying to highlight somedifferent fun places, some new
(52:51):
gear or just some different waysyou can.
You, like I said, you could useyour harvest as membership.
Speaker 1 (52:58):
So keep a lookout for that okay, great information,
great content, great connection,great community so many things
here.
It's awesome.
It's now time actually to putthe two of you on the spot and
I'm going to take.
I know you should see the looksright now.
So this is the question of theweek.
(53:19):
It's brought to you by OpenRoads, innovative Toll Solutions
.
Both of you travel.
Did you know?
There is a toll covers all 48states All 48 states.
I need it, yes, we all do.
Costs $24 a year yes, so I needthe looks on me.
Speaker 2 (53:42):
Yeah, no more easy pass.
Speaker 1 (53:44):
Yeah, no more Texas tag.
Okay.
So in Texas I got a finebecause I had my easy pass and I
thought it'd be a toll by platetype situation, whatever it's
called.
I got it in the mail but itwent to my escapees email.
My fault, I didn't check andthey only give you 25 days.
(54:05):
Well, this was beyond the 25days F fines and all kinds of
charges.
I paid them over $150 in fines.
Let me just say that.
So then I got the innovativetoll solutions the toll pass,
$24 for the year.
It's worked seamlessly and, hadthat happened where I had that
(54:29):
issue with the toll, they'veconceded service, so I could
have called them and said I'vegot a problem and they would
have fixed it.
It is a no brainer.
Everybody's got to get thistoll pass.
It's just been great, saved meso much money, headache, it's
awesome, you could go to my openroads and there's a pull down
menu.
There's also a link in the shownotes, okay.
(54:52):
So here's the question, and it'sdifficult for us that have
traveled and done so much, andbefore we got on the call we
were talking about places butwhat would be something on your
bucket list that you wouldrecommend to my listeners?
That could be something you'vealready done or that you want to
do.
And this is where we play music, jacob, because the looks on
(55:16):
both.
I've got two people and they'reboth, and, yes, they're trying
to hum the Jeopardy song and youknow they're both baffled.
So I'll just keep talking untilone of them raises their hand.
Okay, laura, it's you.
Speaker 3 (55:31):
Okay, I'll go with.
So last summer my husband, roband I took the whole summer to
RV to Alaska and you know we'vebeen to Alaska on some of the
Alaskan cruises before, so we'veseen, you know, from the coast,
from the ship, a little bit ofinterior and everything.
But we decided we're just goingto go spend the whole summer.
(55:52):
We basically crossed overCanada early May and didn't come
back out until after Labor Day,and for us we chose to buy a
small rig to be a little bitmore nimble and take advantage
of how Alaska is like 95%, youknow, you can stay overnight.
As long as it doesn't stayovernight, we also use some
(56:16):
harvest host locations while wewere there.
So there was that opportunity.
But it was just an amazingexperience to be there all
summer and just really enjoybeing in Alaska.
You know we met so many peoplethat are like oh yeah, I'm
coming to Alaska, I'm leavingnext week and I'm going to be
there for two weeks and then I'mheading back to Florida.
(56:36):
I'm like you can't experienceAlaska in an RV in two weeks.
You've got to spend the time.
So we highly recommend that isone thing that.
Put it on your bucket list.
Give yourself at least twomonths.
It's very easy to do on yourown.
There's a lot of great tourcompanies out there.
If you're not comfortable withthat, there's harvest host
(56:58):
locations.
We did them in Canada, we didthem in Alaska.
You can just do so manydifferent ways to really
experience Alaska.
That would probably be one ofmy top ones at this point.
Speaker 1 (57:11):
Okay, and I want to go to Alaska because I want to
see the Northern Lights.
Speaker 3 (57:16):
Yeah, we didn't see them.
But then when we got back,everybody started seeing them in
the lower 48.
I was like what the heck yeah?
Speaker 1 (57:24):
And then I was told to go to Iceland, but Alaska is
definitely on my bucket list.
I haven't been yet.
Okay, dominic, you've had allthe time in the world now.
Speaker 2 (57:33):
Yeah, you're, you're putting me on the spot.
But I think for me, like thebeauty in RVing is like going to
the places that you don'texpect to be amazing, and then
you find the beauty in thoseplaces Like we've and don't get
me wrong, like the nationalparks and being out West, like
amazing, right, truly, things'veand don't get me wrong, like
the national parks and being outWest, like amazing, right,
(57:53):
truly, things that you know, you, if you haven't seen, you can't
really put into words.
But so I guess there's a littlebit to the story here.
On our drives we live inColorado, my family is in New
York, so we're kind of doingI-80, i-70 quite a bit Just in.
It's convenient for us and itgets us to where we need to be.
(58:15):
But so we would always go tothis little town on Lake
Michigan called like St Joseph'sBenton Harbor, and it's like
really close to I-80, reallyconvenient, and it's just kind
of become our little specialspot.
So beautiful beaches, like whenI show people pictures of this
(58:36):
place they think it's theCaribbean, but I'm like no, it's
not, it's Lake Michigan.
The dunes are beautiful and thewater you don't have to worry
about anything Like there's nosharks, there's nothing that's
going to bite you or stab you inthe foot, it's just you can put
your mind at ease and, um, justreally relax.
(58:56):
So that's, that's kind of beenour, our little hidden gem, um.
But this past year we actuallyeveryone kept saying like, if
you like Michigan, just keepgoing up.
It only gets better.
So we did a bigger trip to umdoor County, wisconsin, and then
we went up through UpperPeninsula, marquette, and it's
(59:16):
just stunning up there.
So if that hasn't been on yoursummer RV list, definitely make
sure you get it on there.
Speaker 1 (59:23):
Right, and definitely it was on my list to go.
I have not been up in the uppernorthern states, so definitely
on my list.
And you made it sound amazing,so definitely on the bucket list
.
And for those people who wantto go in the cold weather, they
could use air skirts to keepthemselves warm.
I mean, it really makes adifference.
(59:44):
So there's that, okay.
Is there anything?
I'm just going to ask.
I'm going to go a little off,not that there's a script, but
is there anything we haven'tcovered that you want to add in
here?
It's okay if not, I just wantto make sure we covered it all.
So, harvest Host they are nowdoing 44 extra nights.
(01:00:08):
At some locations they havehookups such as electric and
water.
Dump your tanks before you getthere.
Most places don't offer thatand the big deal is 30% off.
That sale is not going to lastforever, so buy it, get the 30%
off.
It is the biggest discount ofthe year.
Speaker 3 (01:00:29):
Was there something you wanted to add, laura Well, I
just want to say, too,registration is the biggest
discount of the year.
Was there something you wantedto add, laura?
Well, I just want to say, too,registration is open.
It opened a little over a weekago for Escapade in Tucson in
March 16th through the 21st.
You can either go toescapeescom and look for the
national rally or you can go toescapadeescapeyscom and find it
(01:00:52):
there, and you'll see a link todo registration there as well.
We did a new onlineregistration system this year,
going to have a QR code that youscan when you get there, so it
should be easy for you to pullin, get parked and start having
fun and, dominic, you shouldcome.
Speaker 2 (01:01:09):
Listen, I've got my first escapees event on the
calendar what about okay?
Speaker 3 (01:01:14):
oh, patty, absolutely you should come, we could do a
podcast, we could do a livepodcast from there absolutely.
Speaker 1 (01:01:19):
we've done it from the balloon fiesta.
We could do it from there.
That sounds amazing.
Okay, it is now time for thefeature campground of the week,
and it is brought to you by RVLife.
Now, usually, this is where Italk about one of the feature
campgrounds.
I'm going to talk about RV Life.
We talked a little bit.
(01:01:39):
Rv Trip Wizard is the way toplan your trips.
Laura's shaking her head.
This is an incredible planningtool for those trips that you're
taking.
Rv Life is in a partnership withHarvest Toast.
Don't know exactly what thatlooks like right now.
(01:02:00):
I should know that, but I'mjust being honest here.
There is a partnership here,and so, going to campgrounds at
rvlifecom, you could also findout everything you need to know
about campgrounds across thecountry there are.
When you go torvlifecampgroundscom, you can
(01:02:21):
look at city, state and nationalparks.
You can look at campgrounds, rvparks, resorts.
It is a comprehensive source ofall things camping.
I have been using RV Life, theRV Life suite of products, since
before I started RVing, and ithas been incredibly helpful.
(01:02:43):
It's rvlifecom, there is a 25%discount in the show notes and
you have to have it.
That's all I'm going to say.
So, wow, what an interview.
Thank you guys, both so much.
I know this was a quick tryingto pull this together and
getting all of us at the sametime in the same place, so I
(01:03:04):
want to thank both of you somuch for all of the information
and it was just so much fun.
Speaker 3 (01:03:11):
Thank you, patty, it has been great fun.
Speaker 2 (01:03:14):
Yeah, Patty, thanks so much.
We really appreciated being onhere and being able to share a
little bit of our story and whatwe do.
Speaker 1 (01:03:21):
Great.
Thank you again, and you havebeen listening to the RV Life
Podcast.
I'm Patty Hunt saying have agreat rest of today and an even
better day tomorrow.
Are you ready to break free from the ordinary?
I'm Patti Hunt and you'relistening to the RV Life Podcast
.
Harvest Host is the namesynonymous with unique camping.
Today, I have three guestsactually two guests on, there
(00:22):
was supposed to be three thatwill share their expertise and
experience to not only help youfind unique experiences, they
will talk about the huge changesthat Harvest Hosts just
announced and the biggestdiscount of the year.
The RV Life podcast was createdto entertain, educate and
(00:43):
explore the RV lifestyle, withthe mission to inspire you to
live life to the fullest.
This week, what you Need to Knowis brought to you by Open Road
Resorts, and they have manylocations now in places like
Montana, idaho, nebraska, newMexico, and they have two
(01:03):
locations in Texas.
The newest one, good ShepherdRV Park in Dallas, texas.
They are offering 25% off staysof two nights or more during
the 2025 season.
You need to use RV Life 25,case sensitive, so all capitals
(01:25):
and if you book between now andJanuary 31st 2025, for any of
your stays in 2025.
There are some blackout dates.
You could go check all of thisout by going to
openroadresortscom.
What you need to know there are63 national parks.
(01:47):
The state that has the mostnational parks is California and
the newest national park isRiver Gorge National Park and
Preserve in West Virginia.
The first national park wasYellowstone National Park and it
was established March 1st 1872,by President Ulysses S Grant.
(02:10):
Now I tell my story about havingtraveled full-time for over
three years and when I firststarted out, the idea was we
were going to go see everynational park in the country.
To date, after over three years, to date, the number of
national parks I have visited iszero.
I have never gotten to onenational park while RVing and
(02:37):
the reason is because I alwaysfind these incredibly unique
places.
Find these incredibly uniqueplaces and that's why I've loved
Harvest Hosts, because theyhave so many incredibly unique
places I can stay.
Today's episode is going to bedifferent because I have two
(02:58):
guests on that are in twodifferent places and they're
going to help us with twodifferent places and they're
going to help us withinformation, both the Harvest
Host side as well as theEscapees RV Club side, and most
people, if you did not know,back in June, harvest Hosts
(03:18):
acquired Escapees RV Club.
I did an episode July 25th ofthis year, episode number 92,
where Joel Holland, the CEO,talked about that acquisition
and today my guest is going totell us what has happened since
July.
But let me start first withDominic, who?
(03:41):
He is the member experiencespecialist and as a member
experience specialist at HarvestHosts, he works to ensure an
exceptional experience for boththe members and the host.
His role is multifaceted,involving technical
troubleshooting, complianceoversight and host success
(04:02):
management.
He helps to maintain seamlessplatform functionality for
members and hosts.
He also ensures hosts adhere tocompliance standards and meets
expectations, creating a safeand enjoyable environment.
That's a lot.
Welcome, dominic, to the RVLife Podcast.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
Thank you, Patti.
Happy to be here and to explaina little bit about Harvest
Hosts and some of the fun newthings that have been happening
over in our neck of the woods.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
Can't wait.
Now your last name.
Please pronounce it for me.
I did not want to butcher it.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
It's okay.
A lot of vowels in that.
It's pronounced Kamalaji.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Okay, cool name, I'll leave it to you.
So what I usually do when Ihave people on the podcast, I
introduce them.
I'd love to hear theirbackstory.
So I'm going to hear yourbackstory and then I will
introduce our next guest.
So tell us a little bit aboutyour RV journey.
How did it start?
When did it start?
(05:01):
Why did it start when?
Speaker 2 (05:02):
did it start?
Why did it start?
So my RV journey began kind ofpost-pandemic 2021, fueled by a
lot of YouTubers, and I guessthat was kind of part of the
inspiration following some ofour favorite YouTubers, to kind
of be inspired to get out more.
At the time, my wife and I wewere both living in Vail,
(05:23):
colorado, and Vail is an amazingplace.
We're both big backcountryenthusiasts, whether that's in
the winter on the slopes or, um,you know, hike in to find
different alpine lakes in thesummertime, and RVing was a way
for us to get out of our littlebubble and experience even more
(05:44):
places.
So, whether that's getting outto Moab for the weekend or to up
to Jackson hole, um, it was agreat way for us to just kind of
expand our scope of where wecan explore.
And then you know it was alsotwofold be living in the
mountain town.
It was very, uh, isolating attimes, so we're able to get out
and see our friends and familyand just have that, have that
(06:06):
access and that community thatwe were kind of lacking where we
, where we were.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Awesome.
Love to hear the stories.
Now Laura is also with us.
It was supposed to be Laura Rob, but prior to getting on, laura
told us she bounced Rob off ofthe podcast.
There was something she saidsomething about headsets, but
I'm not sure about that and thetwo of you came from Escapees RV
(06:33):
Club and you've been to 25Escapees events and then you
started working for Escapees asa volunteer and you did smaller
rallies.
You said 30 rigs, which to mesounds like a lot, and now you
plan and organize and runescapades, which is the biggest
(06:57):
escapees rally of the year withthe 600 to 1000 rigs.
Did I read that?
Speaker 3 (07:04):
right, yep, you absolutely did 1,900 people.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
Oh, my goodness, we're going to hear more about
that.
I'm already overwhelmed.
And a quote that you said it'slike throwing a huge RV party
every year Huge, it's more likehumongous.
So welcome Laura, to the RVLife podcast.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
Thank you, patty.
Thanks for having me here, rob.
Sorry that he couldn't be herebut, like I said, it just didn't
work out with our logistics andeverything.
But still a huge fan of Harvest, oats and RV Life and so glad
to be here.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (07:41):
Thank you, and so tell me how to pronounce your
last name.
I'm just going to give upCurnod here, thank you, thank
you, and so tell me how topronounce your last name.
I'm just going to get a nodal.
Okay.
Okay, we, I got to get someSmith's on here, or something
nice and easy.
So tell my listeners how yourRV life journey started.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Well, we had been a weekend warrior, you know, grew
up camping me more than Rob butthen when we had kids, decided
camping was a great familypastime, started camping on
weekends and during the summerswith lots of friends and
actually I was coordinating, youknow, a once one week a summer
(08:21):
vacation for about 60 peopleback then.
So kind of started my planningfun things to do while RVing.
Then we decided we had twins.
They left the house at the sametime.
We looked at each other andsaid you know what?
Life's too short, too manypeople die waiting to retire.
We're just going to go aheadand do it now and then figure
(08:41):
out from there.
So 2018, we retired early, hitthe road.
Prior to that we had joinedEscapees and then joined Harvest
Host because I saw a picture ofa fifth wheel sitting on a
coast somewhere up in Maine at awinery and I'm like I want to
go there.
And so we joined Harvest Host.
Still haven't found that winery, but found a lot of other great
(09:03):
locations since then.
So it's just been a great ride.
We're going on eight years nextyear doing this fun journey.
We've been with Escapees fromthe beginning and been employees
the last three years, basically, but now Harvest Hosts
employees since July.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
So you did move over and you are now an employee at
Harvest Host.
Speaker 3 (09:26):
Yes, our whole events team, our whole escapees events
team, which is really what welike to think is the kind of the
heart of what makes escapees RVclub different is the events
and the community spirit that weprovide.
Our whole team went underHarvest Host, so that is all
still there.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Let's talk a little bit about that.
As I said, and I'll take anycomments from both of you.
I'll start with you, Laura, butas I said back in June, it was
that Harvest Host acquiredEscapees RV Club and let's be
really clear and talk to see ifthere's anything that we could
add.
In the episode that I did withJoe Holland, he did a great job
(10:08):
explaining but as things havemoved forward, so Harvest Hosts
acquired Escapees RV Club andthey have the event side of it.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
They have the membership and the event.
They have everything but parkand the mail service.
So all of that has stayed withthe organization in Livingston
care of membership on theregistration side and new member
sign up and everything.
The RV show team that goes outand talks to folks at great RV
shows around the country All ofthat is now part of Escape Bees
(10:42):
RV Club and that's what wealways say come over like we
(11:28):
were next door or something youknow but has come under that
umbrella now it definitely wasand wanting to keep that very
much intact and just grow it andmake it better.
You know how can we get morepeople excited about meeting up
with people you know down theroad and also in unique
locations?
Speaker 1 (11:43):
And it's good to hear that after, because that was a
concern of people.
And the reason that I wanted toget Joel on was whenever
something happens, wheneverthere's a change, you go to
social media and there's allkinds of information we'll say
it a nice way and there's peoplemaking stuff up and there's
(12:06):
people that are happy andthere's people panic, and
there's people happy or panickedabout information they're not
even clear on.
So it was very important that Ihad Joel on to get that
information.
And these were two solidcompanies with family-like
environments.
And here you are merging andit's great to see some five
(12:32):
months later things really havegone well and things are smooth,
Okay.
So, Dominic, do you haveanything to add on that?
Let's get you back in.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
I think it's been great to have the infusion of
the Escapies team joining upwith us.
You know, as we're kind ofharvesters, we're kind of the
young arviers Like, we're fairlynew to the game but you know,
just having the knowledge andthe experience that Laura and
the rest of her team has broughtover, and it's truly been great
(13:04):
to have them come over andshare all the knowledge with us.
I know I'll probably be askingRob how to fix a few different
things in my RV pretty soon,But-.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Oh, and there's that, okay, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
So it's been great to have them over here and we're
happy to see where thepartnership continues.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
Okay, so let's talk a little bit.
I am going to go back and mylisteners consists of
full-timers, part-timers, sometimers, whatever they want to be
called and there's a lot of newpeople that are thinking about
the RV lifestyle.
So, wherever people are, let'stalk a little bit.
Let's start with you, dominic,and talk about Harvest Hosts,
(13:47):
for somebody who's never heardof it doesn't know what it is.
I started by talking aboutunique camping experiences, so
let's talk about that.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Yeah, I guess I'll just jump into my first
experience with Harvest Hosts,and that really happened before,
once we first purchased ourcamper camper.
We, I have a, I have a pop uptruck camper, so it's a hallmark
truck camper.
Sits in the back of the truck,low profile, um, but you know it
can take care of all of our,our needs that we have just for
for my wife and I so, and we'renot full-timers either, so we're
(14:20):
, we're weekend warriors.
We'll usually take I mean, weboth work remote so we'll'll
usually take extended trip ortrips in the summertime.
So we're I guess we're kind ofin that hybrid role.
So with our RV, like there's aproblem, right.
It's like where do you findcampsites, especially if you're
(14:41):
not booking them six months inadvance or you're not on all the
state websites once thecampsites open?
How do you find campsites,especially if you're not booking
them six, six months in advanceor you're not on all the state
websites once the campsites open?
How do you find campsites?
Cause our RV it wasn't, it'snot stealth, like we can't just
pull in and camp someplace andyou know my wife definitely
wouldn't, that wouldn't fly withher either especially with our
style RV.
It's like once it's popped up inthe bed of the truck, you know
(15:02):
someone's camping in there.
So making sure there's a safeplace was really the driving
force for us to be Harvest Hostmembers.
And then from there, that'swhen you just kind of where all
the magic happens.
You think you're just going toan overnight stay at a winery
and next thing you know you'retalking to the owner.
(15:23):
He's asking you what you'rehaving for dinner and trying to
find the perfect wine to pairwith your meal.
So it's really the experiencesthere.
They're all amazing.
But dissolve your expectationbecause you never know what
you're going to get into.
And but, but every time I it'salways 10 out of 10.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
I have to agree.
I have to just share that.
We became Harvest Host members,my husband and I, when we
started out.
We became Harvest Host membersand we have had some of the most
incredible experiences.
Really.
We have had some of the mostincredible experiences really.
We pulled in, we were inTennessee and we were going to
stay.
(16:02):
Actually, we were going toNashville to do the whole
Nashville thing.
We ended up going to a harvesthost in this little town in
Tennessee and it was a longhorncattle farm and so cool, great,
let me look at that from adistance.
No, this young couple, amazingcouple.
(16:23):
They said come on, let's gomeet the cattle long horn cattle
, we're talking like eight feetwide, long, pointy horns.
So we go walk out into thefield.
And he said, okay, so whenyou're going to pet them, you
grab the horn so they don't like, when they're happy, they kind
of swing their head and youdon't want to get hit by the
(16:46):
horn.
Well, I was standing behind himfor shelter because I was a
little nervous, but these cattlewere like puppies.
And then the morning we'reready to leave he comes banging
on the door early in the morning.
He said let's go, let's go.
I thought there was a fire orsomething.
And we go out into the fieldand we sat there for two hours
(17:07):
while one of the cows was havingits calf, so we witnessed, yeah
.
So that's not necessarilyexperience everybody's going to
get to have, nor an experienceeverybody wants to have, but
when Harvest Hosts says unique,incredible, unique experiences.
Speaker 2 (17:25):
Exactly Like you can't pay for these experiences.
They're just, they just kind ofhappen.
It's like the magic of HarvestHosts.
It really is like the magic ofHarvest Hosts.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
Yes, yes, laura, you have a story to add.
It looks like.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
Yeah, the magic of our post.
Yes, yes, laura, you have astory to add?
It looks like, yeah, and one ofour first days.
I'm really I don't want to sayfamous, but my friends know this
about me that I will give Rob acarrot when we're driving.
We're some of those crazypeople that put in 500 plus days
, don't recommend it and only doit on necessary times.
But we were doing one trip upthrough Indiana, illinois, and
(18:01):
it was like, okay, we are goingto stay here.
And I said, but if we go like alittle bit farther another hour
and a half, we can stay at thisharvest hose that has an onsite
bistro and winery.
It's a goat farm, you know.
So who doesn't love cute littlegoats?
(18:22):
But it's like the fact thatthey were going to have food
right there and we didn't haveto go anywhere, so we thought
that was great, right, you knowyou told them.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
You told them drive an extra hour and a half for
your cooking dinner tonight.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Yeah, basically Basically same thing, you know,
we don't have to unhook thetrack and go anywhere.
So we get there and a cutelittle place, beautiful flowers,
because it's like July orAugust, I can't remember, it was
summertime Sitting there, we'rehaving our dinner, and I look
down and there's a little cardon the table that says the next
morning there was going to begoat yoga.
(18:52):
And I'm like I do yoga, I'venever done goat yoga.
When am I going to get thechance, maybe, to do this?
So it's like we have to stay alittle bit later.
Normally we're out pretty early,you know, at a stop like that.
So I'm like, okay, so we stayand I'm doing goat yoga.
And they say, okay, we're goingto do the yoga for about 20
(19:13):
minutes, and then we bring thebaby goats out because we know
that's why you all came as thebaby goat, you know, and so he's
got a great picture of me doingwarrior two and the goats are
coming up through my legs and,you know, climbing on other
people's backs and everything itwas.
It was just such a beautifulexperience and a great time and
had we, you know, we would havenever gotten that experience
(19:35):
without Harvest Oats.
You know they didn't advertisethat there would be goat yoga,
but it was a big bonus when wegot there, that's incredible,
and this is what I love aboutHarvest Oats.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
And again for my listeners, there is wineries,
there's farms.
You could say at a church Iknow there were some churches,
there was a drive-in movietheater.
Let's talk about alpacas.
We all missed all three of usmissed an alpaca farm.
So we're having thisconversation before the podcast
(20:06):
started and what does my editor,who's not an RVer, say?
But he has visited an alpacafarm, so it is something on all
three of our bucket list.
My editor, jacob, has alreadychecked that off.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
But alpacas, there's something about that and there
are a number of alpaca farmsacross the country and, for
those of you who don't know, ourmascot at Harvest Host is an
alpaca.
His name is Harvey H-A-R-V-E-Y,so that's why it's such a
popular topic here at HarvestHost.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
I actually forgot about that.
I was interviewed.
They started doing interviewswith people, with Harvey or
something.
I don't remember.
I forgot about that.
Yes, so got to get to thealpaca farm and then buy the.
They have sweaters and andgloves and socks.
Alpaca fur is very warm, sothat'll be on.
That's on my bucket list.
(21:05):
I know that it's to get to analpaca farm.
Well, that's great.
So there are so many different,unique camping experiences
across the country.
You sign up.
Let's talk about who wants totalk about Dominic.
Why don't you talk about howthe program actually works for
people?
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Yeah.
So us at Harvest Host, wepartner with small businesses
across North America, so Canadaand the United States.
And how it works is yourmembership has access to all
these locations and reallyyou're looking at the map,
you're figuring out which onesfit your rig, which ones
(21:46):
interest you, which ones youwant to patronize.
That is a part of the programis to make sure you're
supporting the business thatyou're staying at.
So if you're allergic to dairy,don't go to a dairy farm.
But other than that, you knowall the locations pretty much
have something for everyonefamilies, you know, couples,
people that like adventurethere's, there's really a host
(22:07):
for you out there.
And once you find one that youlike, that kind of starts the
dialogue with with a host.
So you'll put in your your stayrequest with the host.
Once the host sees that itreviews your profile, make sure
your rig will fit and make surethey're available for that date,
they'll send you a message backsaying welcome to come here for
(22:29):
this night.
Your stay request is approvedand then all you have to do is
show up and start having a goodtime.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
Right, and it's like you said there's something for
everyone.
I stayed at a winery.
I don't really drink wine but,like you said, I wanted to make
sure I'm supporting and buyingsomething.
They had food there.
I ended up buying a bottle ofwine for my mother, so it's a
great exchange and the pricethat you would pay staying at
(22:59):
one of these places.
It's still less expensive thanstaying in a campground
somewhere.
You know people could stay inCracker Barrel, but just not
quite as fun.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
No waking up in between the rows of a vineyard
or having the whole drive andmovie theater to yourself when
you wake up, it's, it's a prettyunique experience.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
It's amazing Go ahead , laura.
Speaker 3 (23:24):
Yeah, I was going to say too, you know, the first
probably six to eight months onthe road we did a lot of Walmart
stays and then, once we starteddoing some more harvest hoses,
like no, we're not ever goingback to that, because you have
semis running constantly and,like you said, or you can wake
up in a beautiful location, orwe stayed at one uh farm up in
(23:45):
maine and they had a full.
You could get meat, egg, dairy,you know all kinds of stuff.
I mean, you know, I did myweekly grocery shopping while we
were there so it was great.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Harvest hose is really adaptable for all
different types of travelers.
So say you're someone thatlikes to book things last minute
, there's going to be hosts thatcan accommodate you on that
level.
Or if you're someone like me orreally my wife who likes to
plan things out, there's goingto be hosts that like to have
people booked for their sites.
So both really have a lot ofaccommodations and flexibility
(24:22):
both ways.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Right, and for people listening to the podcast, the
video isn't being shown.
The three of us are on cameraand it's funny.
We're so excited.
You know, we're just kind ofwe've raised our hands so that
we're not talking over eachother and you know we couldn't
possibly mention all thedifferent types of locations.
I stayed at a loofah andlavender farm, learned more
(24:45):
about loofah and lavender than Iever could have imagined.
That was an incredibleexperience.
But let's talk.
Harvest Host has a hugeannouncement as far as some new
things they are adding To me.
It is life-changing, dominic,I'll let you take that one.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Yes.
So we've been listening to ourhosts and our members and we're
really excited to have rolledout extra nights and hookups.
So these are two highlyrequested features that are now
live in our platform.
You'll be able to filter tofind hosts that can provide
extra nights.
Historically, harvest Host hasalways been a one night
(25:27):
overnight stay.
Now about 60% of our hostsallow for extra nights, so
that's a huge, huge amount.
The extra nights they operateslightly different than the kind
of the one night stay.
Those will be up to each hostto set their you know small
(25:51):
amount of what they, what theycharge for those additional
nights.
Still it's usually between like20 and $40 for for those extra
nights.
Still it's usually between like$20 and $40 for those extra
nights.
But all the money goes directlyto the host.
Us at Harvest House we don'ttake any of that.
It goes strictly to supportingthe small business.
So you can rest easy knowingthat your contribution is going
(26:11):
to a great cause.
And then the hookups feature.
So if you're not a boondocker,if that's not really your thing,
you need the 50 amp, you needthe 30 amp.
Now our platform canaccommodate you.
Before it was kind of hidden.
If the host has it or if theydon't, you kind of have to
(26:32):
message them and do a little bitmore research and digging to
figure out if that is going tobe offered at that host location
.
Now it's right in the filters30 amp, 50 amp, whatever you
need for your rig, you can finda host that provides that.
Speaker 1 (26:47):
That is amazing, amazing changes.
Laura, I'm going to get to you,but I do need to get my sponsor
in here.
We've been talking for a while,so much excitement.
I want to talk about Clear 2.0because those people, it's sad
to say, I'm sorry to say, thereare people that are storing
(27:08):
their RVs for the season, andbefore you store your RV, there
are critical steps you don'twant to miss.
Sanitizing your freshwater tankis one of those critical steps.
So, whether you've beenfull-time or you're part-time,
you're a weekender campgroundsreally.
The water there can reallyaffect your freshwater and we
(27:32):
want to make sure they are cleanbecause the water system can
accumulate bacteria, sedimentand other contaminants over time
.
So before you take that RV andput it in storage, you want to
use Clear 2 O's Tank Fresh watertank and filter flush.
It is easy to use.
(27:52):
I did it with my RV.
It's a gallon bottle, dependingon your tank size.
You pour it right in, you waitan hour.
I think it is.
There's no smell.
It's just so easy to use and itcleans and sanitizes your RV's
freshwater system, ensuring thatthe next time you pick up your
(28:14):
RV you will have a clean tank,fresh Tank Tank Fresh is one of
the many products Clear 2.0offers, and they are offering
15% off when you use coupon codeRVLIFEPODCAST.
Check out Clear 2.0, clear2ocom.
So, laura, I'll go to you.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
I just wanted to add that we're booked a Harvest Host
in December that we're going tofor three nights.
We're in between campgroundsdays and needed a few nights,
and the extra night feature wasawesome.
I did my booking and then whenI chose, I accidentally chose a
(28:57):
total of four nights.
So once they approved me, Ijust was able to turn around and
message the host and said, hey,you know, we really only wanted
to stay three nights and he'slike, no problem, we're, you
know, pretty lax about it, butit's great when the hosts are so
responsive, you know, to yourneeds and everything but the
extra nights we're actuallystaying at it's a brewery, a
(29:17):
restaurant, they have aputt-putt, they have a petting
zoo I forget what else, butwe're taking our three-year-old
grandson, so I'm pretty surewe're going to spend the $30 a
night while we're there.
Speaker 1 (29:28):
Absolutely.
And what's nice, too, is thefact that all the money goes to
the host.
So farms, wineries, all ofthese places.
We're talking about that extraincome that they get for the
year by having the RVers come in.
It's really helpful.
It's just a great big, it's ahelp.
(29:48):
It's really very helpful.
Go ahead, dominic.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
And I just wanted to include that.
These extra features they'reincluded in our base level
membership.
So if you're just thinkingabout getting your toes wet in
Harvest Host, all these newfeatures they're going to be in
the base level membership, theHarvest Host Classic.
So really great way to you knowkind of adapt different types
of RVers and different types ofcampers into the Harvest Host
(30:13):
ecosystem here.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
Right, and it is one price, like you said, covers
everything.
When you go to a location, youwant to support them in some way
.
I know when I've gone to acertain location, the host
delivery they say pay me thismuch or they don't ask for
anything at all.
(30:36):
Sometimes you go in and youjust go by.
I stayed on an orchard andbought apples or whatever.
I made purchase.
Now I got to say I went totheir little store and I bought
apples, I bought homemade sugarcookies, I bought milk, I bought
fruit, I bought a whole bunchof stuff Because, again, it's
(30:58):
like you said, laura, I neededto shop anyway.
It's nice to support thecommunity and the hosts are
always so welcoming.
But you mentioned membership,so let's talk about the best
sale discount of the year.
Dominic, you want to take that?
Speaker 2 (31:17):
Yeah, I'll take it.
So right now, from now throughJanuary 12th, we're running our
best sale of the year.
It's 30% off all of ourproducts.
So whatever you're interestedin, you'll be able to use that
30% off all of our HarvestedProducts.
That code is HOLIDAYHH and I'msure you'll link it in the
(31:41):
episode description HOLIDAYHHnow through January 12th.
Oh, this is good for newmembers and returning members.
So if you're a returning member, purchase a gift card and apply
that to your account.
That's a way for you to takeadvantage of this great offer.
And if you're a new member,purchase a gift card and apply
that to your account.
That's a way for you to takeadvantage of this great offer.
(32:01):
And if you're a new member,just like I said, type that code
into your signup and receivethat discount.
Speaker 1 (32:08):
And anybody that has any issue with that.
I know they could call HarvestHost.
They could send a message andthey will get help with that.
For people who are previousmembers and they want to get
that discount, that's amazing30% off, well worth it.
I've had a Harvest Hostmembership every year since I've
(32:30):
started RVing and it hasabsolutely been worth it.
And, laura, you said it's likethat holdover sometime in
between your camping.
But I've also specificallywanted to go and I'm trying to
think of all the places I hadgone to.
So you know it's both of thosethings where you plan on going
(32:52):
Because, well, like the alpacafarm, really, we've got to get
to the alpaca farm, so that'llbe a goal to get to the alpaca
farm.
Really, we've got to get to thealpaca farm, so that'll be a
goal to get to the alpaca farm.
But it is a great opportunity,great option as people travel.
I just want to bring in OpenRoad Fuel Card.
Open Road Fuel Card.
I've got to talk about them aswe're talking about traveling
(33:15):
across the country.
Laura, you've got your thumb up.
I'm assuming you have it.
This is the diesel fuel cardthat saves money every time you
get diesel fuel.
They say you could save anaverage of between 40 and 60
cents a gallon.
I have saved more than that attimes.
The card is absolutely free tosign up for.
You go to myopenroadscom.
(33:37):
The link is in the show notes.
You have your card, you'retraveling, you have your app and
you decide which gas stationthat you want to go to.
They are truck stops.
What's been your experiencewith it, laura?
Speaker 3 (33:51):
Oh, it's been great.
I mean we've had it pretty muchfrom the beginning when we
learned about it probably notright in 18, but I know we had
it in 2019, right at thebeginning of pandemic and in
Arizona we got over a dollar offa gallon on diesel fuel.
It was like $1.99 back then.
It was crazy.
But we have a hundred gallondiesel motor home so we're
(34:15):
always looking for where can weget the best rate.
So we usually save between $30to $60 on a fill, depending on
how much we're putting in at thetime.
So, yeah, it's been a greatexperience.
We had a couple hiccups.
A few times called theircustomer support and they've
been awesome to deal with anyproblems that we've had.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
And they're, yes, amazing.
I know the people who run thecompany and the customer support
people.
I know her directly Amazingcustomer support and that's what
I look for.
That's why I love Harvest Hostand that's why I'd love to
escape these RV club.
Okay, let's continue.
Let's talk a little bit aboutEscapades.
So for people who don't know Idon't think we did you know
(34:59):
Escapees RV Club.
Who is it for?
You know what's the benefit ofit.
Let's just talk for people whoaren't familiar.
So.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
Escapees is basically for any style of RV or whether
you're full-time, part-time,sometime, big rig, little rig,
no rig, tent campers, it doesn'treally matter.
And any type of person we don'thave, you know, we aren't one
person denomination of any kind,I don't know how exactly to say
(35:29):
that.
No matter what you believe in,who you love and all of that
good stuff, basically it's yourcommunity on the road.
You know a lot of times peoplewhen they go RVing whether it be
for full-time, especially forfull-time, but even for
part-time you pull in somewhereand you're like I don't know
anybody, I don't have anyfriends, I lost all those people
I used to go out to dinner withanybody.
(35:50):
I don't have any friends, Ilost all those people I used to
go out to dinner with.
But once you get involved withescapees, a lot of people start
first on the Facebook groups toget to know people there, but
then, once you come to an eventlike Escapade or any of the many
smaller events that we have andstart to meet people, then you
just find that community on theroad and we've made some great
lifelong friends.
(36:11):
We've also made some friendsthat we haven't seen in a couple
of years, but we'll be in anevent together and we'll cross
paths and be like, oh my gosh,you know where have you been and
what have you done, and so theyget to talk about all the fun
things that you've done in thelast few years.
Escapade, specifically, is whatwe like to call our big family
reunion, but it doesn't meanthat it's just existing members.
(36:36):
New members, people that arebrand new to RVing, come to
Escapade for the education thatwe provide.
We put on over 60 seminarsduring the five days.
We have an RVers boot camp thatgoes on prior to Escapade.
We've added a new RVers bootcamp post-Escapade this year.
We've also added new this year.
Since we do so many seminars.
(36:57):
We're going to have a seminarvideo recording for the popular,
most useful seminars so thatyou can go back and watch them
later if you couldn't get tothem live or if you just want to
go back and re-watch some ofthe great seminars that we put
on.
So, like I said, escapade is afamily reunion, work conference,
giant festival.
(37:18):
There's live entertainmentevery night, there's happy hours
every afternoon, lots of otherevents Yoga in the morning, line
dancing in the afternoon.
I could go on and on about that, but we really think that
escapees is what puts the heartinto the RVing lifestyle.
It's kind of the heart and soul, and now our partnership with
(37:42):
Harvest Host has just helped usto extend that, one of the
things that we're looking to do,because we're going to escapade
in Freiburg, maine, in 2026,which is way up in the northeast
.
I'm pointing, like everybodycan see this Way up in the north
Way up.
Northeast of the country where alot of people don't go RVing
(38:04):
but there's so many greatlocations there.
One of the things that we'regoing to try to do with our
partnership with Harvest Host isfind hosts along the route
through, like Pennsylvania,vermont, new Hampshire, maine
and publicize those and saythese would be some great
locations on your travels toEscapade to stop and visit this
(38:25):
and many others along the way.
So that's one of the uniquethings that we're looking to get
out of this whole relationshipwith Harvest Host.
Speaker 1 (38:33):
That sounds great.
Now talk about membership andhow that works.
It used to be.
I had my Harvest Hostmembership.
I had my Escapees RV Clubmembership.
Right now I have my HarvestHost membership and I have my
escapees mail membership for mymail service.
So how does it work with theevents?
Speaker 3 (38:56):
So currently they're all still separate memberships.
You can go to any of the otherevents.
Some events are escapee membersonly so you can join.
It's $49.95 for a membership toescapees.
During Escapade we run aspecial for $39.95, $10 off.
If you go to RV shows a lot oftimes they run specials $10 off
(39:20):
for $39.95.
But Escapade specifically isopen to anyone to come as an
attendee.
So that's a great time to comefind out what escapees is all
about.
We also do day passes.
If you're in the Tucson area inMarch, if you're already a
snowbird or down there, you cancome for the day we do a free
(39:41):
day on Wednesday of the week,which is March 19th, I think is
the day we're 16th through the21st.
So I think 19th is theWednesday but free day during
that week that you can come inand check it out.
At this point right now they'reall separate memberships.
And then your mail service is.
It's always been kind ofseparate.
(40:02):
You have to pay for your mailservice and you still have to be
an escapees member to utilizethat mail service.
But you have your Harvest Hostmembership, your escape utilize
that mail service, but you haveyour Harvest Host membership,
your Escapees membership andthen you can add on mail service
at this time.
Speaker 1 (40:18):
Okay, and so for anybody who's listening you know
people listen to the podcastwhile they're doing other things
.
They could call Escapees, theycould call Harvest Host, and
your customer service will helppeople to navigate what might be
the best program for eachperson.
I was at the AlbuquerqueBalloon Fiesta and part of the
Escapers event.
(40:38):
I actually did an interviewwith the people there.
We did a live podcast interview.
What a fun bunch of people.
What an incredible event.
I'm thinking that fun bunch ofpeople, what an incredible event
.
I'm thinking that, um, so foralbuquerque balloon fiesta, if
somebody wanted to be part of it, you put that out there.
(40:59):
What?
In january I think somebodysaid it it was sold out in such
a record time, like 45 minutesor something crazy.
Speaker 3 (41:06):
So, and one thing about escapees that we do have
so many different types of eventgroups.
So escapers is kind of ourworking age RVers, so they gear
things to be happening in theevening and not during the
workday.
Of course, at Albuquerque allthe excitement happens in the
morning when the balloons areflying, or in the evening when
they do the glow.
(41:27):
But escapees actually has threedifferent groups that go to
Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta.
You can go with the Escapers,you can go with one of our Birds
of Feathers, the Boomers, whichI think is transitioning to
just be called Balloon RVers orsomething along that line.
Or you can do what we call aHop.
A head out program is kind ofthe white glove experience.
(41:51):
You'll have tatered meals,you'll have a tent gathering
space to get tickets to theevent, to Balloon Fiesta.
So a lot of different ways togo and, yes, most of those the
hop is on sale currently.
Everything else goes on sale, Ibelieve, in January, february
timeframe for that when Fiestahas their opening.
Speaker 1 (42:13):
I just want people to know because I know it sold out
rather quickly.
That was an amazing experience.
Speaker 3 (42:20):
It is a very.
I've done it with all three ofthe different groups and hosted
the hop as well there and justlove going to Albuquerque.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
Now for my listeners who want to RV in the cold.
I'm sure there are hosts thatthey want to be in the cold
weather.
It's not necessarily my thing,but I'm sure there are hosts
that Dominic.
So for those who are cold, Iwant to talk about how they
could stay warm, but I'm surethere are hosts now up in the
northern part of the country aswe record this, it's the end of
(42:52):
november um, that are availablefor people that like the cold
weather.
Speaker 2 (42:57):
Right, I'm putting you on the spot oh yeah, no,
this a lot of our hosts.
They appreciate their ummembers staying at all times of
the year.
Um, I know my family is fromupstate New York and you know
we've stayed for Christmas thepast two years and have traveled
back, you know, in January.
(43:18):
So there's, there's definitelyhosts that are, you know, there
to welcome you and and treat youwith the same level of
hospitality or even better,because you're the only one
they've seen in a couple ofweeks.
So, so, yeah, they're definitelyout there, and sometimes you're
even getting an elevated levelof experience just because, like
I said, they're excited to seeyou.
Speaker 1 (43:39):
Right, it's a private experience.
Again, I'm not necessarily acold weather fan, although here
I am in Pennsylvania, where I'llstay.
For people who are looking forplaces, it is up to the
individual host.
So if there's a place they wantto stay for Christmas in New
York, in upstate New York, theycould just go on and look for
(44:01):
those hosts that are welcoming.
Some hosts just don't have theability.
If it snows it gets muddy.
So there's different situations.
My friends at Airskirts, theseare inflatable RV skirting.
So people who are going to RVin the cold, this is a great way
to keep warm, keep your pipesfrom freezing, and it is
(44:24):
actually inflatable skirtingthat goes all around the RV.
What I love about these becauseus RVers, whether with their
full-time or part-time, space isat a premium, so to be able to
inflate these with a pump thatcomes with the set and then
deflate them.
So these deflate and they gointo a nice storage bag to be
(44:46):
easily stored they're nice andcompact Air skirts is a great
way to go, and they're offering$200 off with code RVPOD,
r-v-p-o-d, and that'sairskirtscom, so I'm happy to be
able to share that with people.
Dominic, you sound like youlike to go in the cold weather
(45:07):
sometimes.
Speaker 2 (45:08):
It's definitely a little bit sportier in the cold
weather, and you know you needto make sure you're checking
those weather forecasts a littlemore diligently.
But yeah, the cold doesn't scareme.
Like I said, we use our RV toget to different backcountry
locations and even somedifferent ski resorts in the
winter, so being able to bravethe cold is kind of part of our
(45:33):
experience.
And actually there's one greathost up in Jackson Hole.
It's called Jackson HoleStillworks.
They're open year round.
Their rig size is a little bitsmaller, so I don't know if you
could be able to get in therewith your class A but-.
Speaker 3 (45:50):
We don't do that.
Speaker 2 (45:54):
I know you guys are in the South, you're right,
you're right, but, um, yeah,jackson hole still works.
It's, it's an amazing, amazingspot like, right, kind of kitty
quarters of town.
That's kind of.
The other fun thing withharvest house is you can
actually find locations that areclose to town.
So being able to, uh, you know,just hop on your bike if you
travel with a bike or some typeof scooter or something, and
being able to have that quickaccess is something that you
(46:16):
don't always get from an RV parkor traditional campground.
So, yeah, jackson Hole stillworks.
It was a great time.
The owner, they took us in theback, they showed us how the
spirits were made and then, youknow, just at at night, we were
in town, jackson hole, and we'veran into all of them and they,
(46:40):
just they.
It was like it was like runningto your friends or family that
you haven't seen in a long time.
After we spent a few nightswith them.
So it was cool to just havethat connection come full circle
and they, uh, they took us tothe next, to the next to, to, uh
, where there was some musicplaying, and we had a great time
with them and that's the nicething about the well, the rv
community really truly is acommunity like I have never
(47:02):
experienced people who have notexperienced it.
Speaker 1 (47:06):
It's like trying to explain what chocolate tastes
like to somebody who's nevertasted it.
You can't know what it's likeuntil you experience it.
So community aspect is huge andI know for escapees and for
Harvest Hosts that is such a bigpart of it because it's not
like you just pull in and youknow.
(47:28):
There have been times I'vepulled into a host location.
It's later at night, we areexhausted, we, you know, pull
the RV and we fall asleep andthe next day maybe just say
hello to the host.
But for the most part there isa connection, there's.
You feel like you're beingwelcomed by family and I find
that in so many of the locationsthat I've been to, Community is
(47:53):
just what it's all about.
I'll let you guys add your twocents into that?
Speaker 3 (47:59):
Oh no, absolutely.
I mean, and that's one thingthat, like I mentioned, with
escapees and then seeing it inthe Harvest Host and within the
Harvest Host employees, it'sreally like a family and it's
interesting.
We stated at a host last weekand they were like, oh, there's
like real people that work atHarvest Host.
And I'm like, yeah, there'sreal people and they're you know
(48:22):
, they're awesome, they're doinga lot of work behind the scenes
and make it be fun.
Dominic and I are on acommittee, fun committee
together.
Speaker 1 (48:34):
So you know, we make it and have a lot of fun as well
, and you could hear that andfeel that and see that, and I
think that's how you know yousee it when you pull into a
location.
We still have some more thingsto cover.
I'm going to put both of you onthe spot in just a minute.
Both of you on the spot in justa minute.
(48:56):
But before I do, you know, rvis an incredible experience.
There are times where we haveissues with the RV and while we
don't like to talk about thosethings, especially on the
podcast, sometimes it'snecessary.
I talked to somebody recentlywho had a tire blowout in a
motorhome.
Thankfully it went well, nobodygot hurt.
But we know that tire blowoutscan be catastrophic.
(49:20):
I have learned from NationalIndoor RV Centers about a
product called RetroBand andthis is to prevent tire blowouts
and this is to prevent tireblowout.
So when you have, if you shouldhave a blowout in your tire,
there is a donut-like ring thatgoes around the inner part of
(49:41):
the tire.
You have to watch a video on itto really understand.
But if the tire goes flat, thisretro brand product will
inflate and I don't know that itactually inflates, but it'll
make it so that you can stilldrive your RV and stop it safely
(50:02):
.
It has literally saved lives.
So I wanted to talk about thatAgain.
Don't like to talk about theharsher side of things, but this
is important and I want my RVlisteners to know.
Retroban is incredible.
You can look it up by going tonirvccom to find out about that
(50:24):
product.
Okay, so tell me for both ofyou, where can people reach out
so we know that they could go toharvesthostcom to find out all
about the Harvest Host products?
They could still go toescapeesrvclubcom correct, it's
escapeescom, just escapeescom,okay.
Speaker 2 (50:45):
Then, on the Harvest Host side of things, there's a
few different ways to reach us,and this is for anything from if
you're having trouble, if youhave a, if you have a suggestion
for a host, or if you just wantto figure out how to optimize
your harvest host membership.
There's a.
There's a outside of justfinding great locations.
There's a lot of other deals,discounts and, um, kind of the
(51:05):
hidden things that that theydon't advertise, that you do
have access to as a harvestvestHost member.
So if you have any questions,you can reach us via email, team
at harvesthostcom or on all theapps.
On our app and on our website.
There's a green bubble in thebottom right-hand corner.
You could chat with one of myteammates If you click that
(51:28):
bubble in the bottom right-handcorner and you know we're all
great and can pretty much answerall your questions, and then
you can also give us a call aswell.
Speaker 1 (51:39):
Okay and I've had to call both of these companies
very receptive, very helpful,real people, so I really
appreciate that.
Now you shared some articlesuggestions that you talked
about Dominic, can you share alittle bit about that?
Speaker 2 (51:55):
Yes, so with the excuse, we've always had a
publication at Harvest Hostcalled RV Life, and now with the
acquisition, now we're kind ofinfusing a lot of our talent and
articles into the escapeesmagazine.
So if you're an escapees memberI'm sure you get that at.
(52:16):
You get that, um, I mean what?
Speaker 3 (52:18):
four times a year, I think six times a year six times
a year I'm a new escapeesmember, so I just got my first
one a few a month ago.
Speaker 2 (52:28):
Um, but yes, you'll find our articles over there and
, um, you know, also keep keep alookout for our blogs.
Like, we're also always postingdifferent things, especially
seasonal.
Like, if you're into a nicefall foliage tour, we we have.
We have a blog for that,highlighting some, some great
host locations.
So we're always churning outsome new content for you and
trying to highlight somedifferent fun places, some new
(52:51):
gear or just some different waysyou can.
You, like I said, you could useyour harvest as membership.
Speaker 1 (52:58):
So keep a lookout for that okay, great information,
great content, great connection,great community so many things
here.
It's awesome.
It's now time actually to putthe two of you on the spot and
I'm going to take.
I know you should see the looksright now.
So this is the question of theweek.
(53:19):
It's brought to you by OpenRoads, innovative Toll Solutions
.
Both of you travel.
Did you know?
There is a toll covers all 48states All 48 states.
I need it, yes, we all do.
Costs $24 a year yes, so I needthe looks on me.
Speaker 2 (53:42):
Yeah, no more easy pass.
Speaker 1 (53:44):
Yeah, no more Texas tag.
Okay.
So in Texas I got a finebecause I had my easy pass and I
thought it'd be a toll by platetype situation, whatever it's
called.
I got it in the mail but itwent to my escapees email.
My fault, I didn't check andthey only give you 25 days.
(54:05):
Well, this was beyond the 25days F fines and all kinds of
charges.
I paid them over $150 in fines.
Let me just say that.
So then I got the innovativetoll solutions the toll pass,
$24 for the year.
It's worked seamlessly and, hadthat happened where I had that
(54:29):
issue with the toll, they'veconceded service, so I could
have called them and said I'vegot a problem and they would
have fixed it.
It is a no brainer.
Everybody's got to get thistoll pass.
It's just been great, saved meso much money, headache, it's
awesome, you could go to my openroads and there's a pull down
menu.
There's also a link in the shownotes, okay.
(54:52):
So here's the question, and it'sdifficult for us that have
traveled and done so much, andbefore we got on the call we
were talking about places butwhat would be something on your
bucket list that you wouldrecommend to my listeners?
That could be something you'vealready done or that you want to
do.
And this is where we play music, jacob, because the looks on
(55:16):
both.
I've got two people and they'reboth, and, yes, they're trying
to hum the Jeopardy song and youknow they're both baffled.
So I'll just keep talking untilone of them raises their hand.
Okay, laura, it's you.
Speaker 3 (55:31):
Okay, I'll go with.
So last summer my husband, roband I took the whole summer to
RV to Alaska and you know we'vebeen to Alaska on some of the
Alaskan cruises before, so we'veseen, you know, from the coast,
from the ship, a little bit ofinterior and everything.
But we decided we're just goingto go spend the whole summer.
(55:52):
We basically crossed overCanada early May and didn't come
back out until after Labor Day,and for us we chose to buy a
small rig to be a little bitmore nimble and take advantage
of how Alaska is like 95%, youknow, you can stay overnight.
As long as it doesn't stayovernight, we also use some
(56:16):
harvest host locations while wewere there.
So there was that opportunity.
But it was just an amazingexperience to be there all
summer and just really enjoybeing in Alaska.
You know we met so many peoplethat are like oh yeah, I'm
coming to Alaska, I'm leavingnext week and I'm going to be
there for two weeks and then I'mheading back to Florida.
(56:36):
I'm like you can't experienceAlaska in an RV in two weeks.
You've got to spend the time.
So we highly recommend that isone thing that.
Put it on your bucket list.
Give yourself at least twomonths.
It's very easy to do on yourown.
There's a lot of great tourcompanies out there.
If you're not comfortable withthat, there's harvest host
(56:58):
locations.
We did them in Canada, we didthem in Alaska.
You can just do so manydifferent ways to really
experience Alaska.
That would probably be one ofmy top ones at this point.
Speaker 1 (57:11):
Okay, and I want to go to Alaska because I want to
see the Northern Lights.
Speaker 3 (57:16):
Yeah, we didn't see them.
But then when we got back,everybody started seeing them in
the lower 48.
I was like what the heck yeah?
Speaker 1 (57:24):
And then I was told to go to Iceland, but Alaska is
definitely on my bucket list.
I haven't been yet.
Okay, dominic, you've had allthe time in the world now.
Speaker 2 (57:33):
Yeah, you're, you're putting me on the spot.
But I think for me, like thebeauty in RVing is like going to
the places that you don'texpect to be amazing, and then
you find the beauty in thoseplaces Like we've and don't get
me wrong, like the nationalparks and being out West, like
amazing, right, truly, things'veand don't get me wrong, like
the national parks and being outWest, like amazing, right,
(57:53):
truly, things that you know, you, if you haven't seen, you can't
really put into words.
But so I guess there's a littlebit to the story here.
On our drives we live inColorado, my family is in New
York, so we're kind of doingI-80, i-70 quite a bit Just in.
It's convenient for us and itgets us to where we need to be.
(58:15):
But so we would always go tothis little town on Lake
Michigan called like St Joseph'sBenton Harbor, and it's like
really close to I-80, reallyconvenient, and it's just kind
of become our little specialspot.
So beautiful beaches, like whenI show people pictures of this
(58:36):
place they think it's theCaribbean, but I'm like no, it's
not, it's Lake Michigan.
The dunes are beautiful and thewater you don't have to worry
about anything Like there's nosharks, there's nothing that's
going to bite you or stab you inthe foot, it's just you can put
your mind at ease and, um, justreally relax.
(58:56):
So that's, that's kind of beenour, our little hidden gem, um.
But this past year we actuallyeveryone kept saying like, if
you like Michigan, just keepgoing up.
It only gets better.
So we did a bigger trip to umdoor County, wisconsin, and then
we went up through UpperPeninsula, marquette, and it's
(59:16):
just stunning up there.
So if that hasn't been on yoursummer RV list, definitely make
sure you get it on there.
Speaker 1 (59:23):
Right, and definitely it was on my list to go.
I have not been up in the uppernorthern states, so definitely
on my list.
And you made it sound amazing,so definitely on the bucket list
.
And for those people who wantto go in the cold weather, they
could use air skirts to keepthemselves warm.
I mean, it really makes adifference.
(59:44):
So there's that, okay.
Is there anything?
I'm just going to ask.
I'm going to go a little off,not that there's a script, but
is there anything we haven'tcovered that you want to add in
here?
It's okay if not, I just wantto make sure we covered it all.
So, harvest Host they are nowdoing 44 extra nights.
(01:00:08):
At some locations they havehookups such as electric and
water.
Dump your tanks before you getthere.
Most places don't offer thatand the big deal is 30% off.
That sale is not going to lastforever, so buy it, get the 30%
off.
It is the biggest discount ofthe year.
Speaker 3 (01:00:29):
Was there something you wanted to add, laura Well, I
just want to say, too,registration is the biggest
discount of the year.
Was there something you wantedto add, laura?
Well, I just want to say, too,registration is open.
It opened a little over a weekago for Escapade in Tucson in
March 16th through the 21st.
You can either go toescapeescom and look for the
national rally or you can go toescapadeescapeyscom and find it
(01:00:52):
there, and you'll see a link todo registration there as well.
We did a new onlineregistration system this year,
going to have a QR code that youscan when you get there, so it
should be easy for you to pullin, get parked and start having
fun and, dominic, you shouldcome.
Speaker 2 (01:01:09):
Listen, I've got my first escapees event on the
calendar what about okay?
Speaker 3 (01:01:14):
oh, patty, absolutely you should come, we could do a
podcast, we could do a livepodcast from there absolutely.
Speaker 1 (01:01:19):
we've done it from the balloon fiesta.
We could do it from there.
That sounds amazing.
Okay, it is now time for thefeature campground of the week,
and it is brought to you by RVLife.
Now, usually, this is where Italk about one of the feature
campgrounds.
I'm going to talk about RV Life.
We talked a little bit.
(01:01:39):
Rv Trip Wizard is the way toplan your trips.
Laura's shaking her head.
This is an incredible planningtool for those trips that you're
taking.
Rv Life is in a partnership withHarvest Toast.
Don't know exactly what thatlooks like right now.
(01:02:00):
I should know that, but I'mjust being honest here.
There is a partnership here,and so, going to campgrounds at
rvlifecom, you could also findout everything you need to know
about campgrounds across thecountry there are.
When you go torvlifecampgroundscom, you can
(01:02:21):
look at city, state and nationalparks.
You can look at campgrounds, rvparks, resorts.
It is a comprehensive source ofall things camping.
I have been using RV Life, theRV Life suite of products, since
before I started RVing, and ithas been incredibly helpful.
(01:02:43):
It's rvlifecom, there is a 25%discount in the show notes and
you have to have it.
That's all I'm going to say.
So, wow, what an interview.
Thank you guys, both so much.
I know this was a quick tryingto pull this together and
getting all of us at the sametime in the same place, so I
(01:03:04):
want to thank both of you somuch for all of the information
and it was just so much fun.
Speaker 3 (01:03:11):
Thank you, patty, it has been great fun.
Speaker 2 (01:03:14):
Yeah, Patty, thanks so much.
We really appreciated being onhere and being able to share a
little bit of our story and whatwe do.
Speaker 1 (01:03:21):
Great.
Thank you again, and you havebeen listening to the RV Life
Podcast.
I'm Patty Hunt saying have agreat rest of today and an even
better day tomorrow.
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